Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway, joined by Oswego County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Don Hilton and Madison County Sheriff's Office - NY Sheriff Todd Hood, held a press conference this morning at the Oneida Shores Park, where they to discuss basic safety precautions when it comes to boating on our waterways.
National Safe Boating Week kicked off on Saturday May 21st and sheriff’s deputies are reminding boaters to be safe this summer by following the law and taking basic safety precautions while on the water. As deputies prepare to patrol the waterways in Onondaga County, they will be assisted by the departments Special Patrol Officers. The Special Patrol Officers also known as SPO’s, consist of retired men and women from law enforcement or corrections, who are assigned to assist sworn deputies with operating the vessels, conducting safety inspections, and assisting in search and rescue operations.
During 2021 there were 192 boating accidents resulting in 118 injuries and 18 fatalities on New York State waterways. While boating fatalities and accidents can be caused by a variety of circumstances, surviving an accident on the water boils down to one important precaution – wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device. The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to wear a life jacket as life jackets save lives when the unexpected happens. An overwhelming majority of boating fatalities are caused by drowning and most of those drowning victims are recovered without a life jacket. There is also a particular concern this time of year about boaters falling into the water and being incapacitated by the cold-water temperatures, which is known as “cold shock.” The instant that cold water makes contact with your skin, you will experience a number of potentially lethal shock responses such as loss of breathing control, heart and blood pressure problems and the ability to think and function.
Deputies will also be on alert for those violating boating under the influence laws as alcohol use remains the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. Alcohol use while boating impairs your judgment and reaction time. It can also lead to passengers falling into the water unexpectedly.
Original source can be found here.
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